Self flashing skylight unit



M. WASSERMAN SELF FLASHING SKYLIGHT UNIT April 7, 1964 Filed April 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

Fig. 2

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INVENTOR MAX WASSERMAN KENWAY, 'JENNEY, WITTER & HILDRETI ATTORNEYS Apnl 7, 1964 M. WASSERMAN 3,127,699

SELF FLASHING SKYLIGHT UNIT Filed April 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n "I I! n I: II I: a II n n n I! II II I! II I,

IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,127,699 SELF FLASHING SKYLIGHT UNIT Max Wasserman, Brookiine, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Cyanamid Company, New York, NY, a corporation of Maine Filed Apr. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 80,307 2 Claims. (Cl. 50--16) This application is a continuation, in part, of United States patent application, Serial No. 662,639, filed May 31, 1957 now abandoned, and relates to a skylight construction providing a pair of spaced translucent members with a thermally insulated space sealed therebetween.

Both the conventional glass skylight and its modern counterpart, the so-ca1led plastic bubble, have certain well recognized disadvantages, namely, the production of glare and excessive heat build up. The use of shades to prevent glare results in creating a heat trap which usually requires the use of vents, louvres, or the like, all of which materially increase the cost of installation. A further objectionable feature is the necessity of providing a condensate gutter below the lower edge of the skylight in order to prevent drippage into the interior of the building.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the aforementioned objectionable features and to provide a skylight which uniformly, and, efliciently disperses transmitted light, thereby avoiding glare without using shades or curtains. Another object is to provide a skylight in which there is little or no likelihood of producing a heat build up, thus avoiding the necessity of providing vents or the like which permit dirt and dust to enter into the interior of the building.

Further objects relate to features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a skylight construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a skylight of modified construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section showing another modification;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing a further modification; and,

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are each fragmentary, vertical sections showing still other modifications.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a skylight comprising an outer dome-like member and an inner member which may be flat or dome-shaped, each having marginal portions that are contiguous and secured together. The body portions of the two members diverge relatively from their marginal portions so as to provide dead air space. The outer dome-like member is composed of a clear transparent plastic of a character capable of withstanding weathering, and, may, if desired, include an embodiment of an opaque, reflective material such as disclosed in the copending application of Maurice C. Kirkpatrick, Serial No. 649,344, filed March 29, 1957, now Patent No. 3,068,753, dated December 18, 1962. The inner member is composed of a translucent plastic which is not only capable of dispersing light, but also of providing adequate structural strength. The size and shape of the structure may vary within wide limits, depending upon the requirements of a particular installation.

Where a maximum amount of dispersed light is desired, the inner member may be dome-shaped and provided with a peripheral portion which is secured to, or formed integrally with a depending skirt composed of a translucent light dispersing plastic, this skirt being designed to seat on the curb surrounding the skylight well.

Although numerous transparent plastic materials are available, practical considerations suggest the use of 3,127,699 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 polymerized methyl methacrylate, because of its weatherresistance, moldability and high degree of light transmission, being of the order of Numerous translucent plastics are likewise available, but since structural strength combined with a high light dispersion is desired, a relatively transparent plastic reinforced with fiber glass or other relatively, non-opaque fibrous material, natural or synthetic, and either woven, felted or otherwise fabricated, is preferred because such fibrous material produces numerous interfaces which efliciently disperse the transmitted light rays. Polyester and epoxy resins, reinforced with fiber glass, are recommended because of their strength and light-dispersing properties.

The accompanying drawings show different embodiments of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates the outer dome-like member, vacuum molded from a sheet 31 of polymerized methyl methacrylate and terminates in a peripheral flange 2 which is substantially flat. Embedded within the member 1 adjacent to its outer surface is a metalized fabric 3 of the type disclosed in the aforementioned application of Maurice C. Kirkpatrick. Such a fabric has at least approximately 50% relatively flat, opaque, reflective strands or areas, and the other constituent strands are non-opaque. Hence, light is transmitted through the non-opaque strands and the meshes of the fabric. The inner member 4 consists of a substantially flat sheet made either from a translucent sheet of methyl methacrylate, or, a fiber glass reinforced, polyester resin and its marginal portion 5 extends beyond the flange 2 of the outer member. A layer of weather-resisting cement 6 anchors the flange 2 to the marginal portion 5 of the inner member 4 and seals the dead air space 7.

During assembly, the air in the dead air space may be replaced with dry air or another gas. The integrated structure thus produced provides a prefabricated unit which may be shipped to building site and mounted on the curb 8 surrounding the skylight well W, a layer of sealing compound 10 being applied about the peripheral portions of the inner member 4 to insure a weather-tight joint. Since the flange 2 is firmly secured to the marginal portion 5 of the inner member, the outer and inner members provide mutual reinforcements permitting the skylight to span a greater area than would otherwise be feasible.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the similar referenec characters are applied to corresponding parts. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the outer member is formed with less convexity and the inner member 4a is slightly concave so as to provide a small dead air space 7a. Here again, the inner and outer member not only provide mutual reinforcements, but also possess the above-noted advantageous features.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer dome-like member 11) is formed with a depending flange 2b which snugly fits the shoulder defined by the depending flange 5b and skirt 12. A suitable adhesive 6b, such as an epoxy resin, is applied so as not only to firmly secure the parts together, but also to provide a hermetical seal for the dead air space 711.

Where the requirements of the installation permit elimination of the skirt 12, the construction shown in FIG. 4 may be advantageously employed. In this construction the outer dome-like member 1c may be formed with depending flange 20, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3, and the inner dome-like member 40 is formed with a depending flange 5c fitting within the flange 2c and terminating in an outwardly extending flange or rim 14. Here again, a suitable adhesive 60 secures the parts together and provides a seal for the dead air space 7c.

It will be observed that in each of the embodiments the outer dome-like member acts somewhat as a lens in that it gathers the light and due to the reflective fabric 3, at least approximately 50% of the heat and light waves are reflected and the remaining waves are transmitted to the inner member which effectively disperses it throughout the well W, thus eliminating glare and the associated shadows. Where maximum light is desired, the skirt 12 is used to transmit and disperse additional light and by varying the height of the skirt the amount of light admitted may be varied so as to achieve the desired illumination. Another feature of the invention is the provision of the dead air space which acts as an insulator, thus not only preventing an objectionable heat build up, without the use of vents, louvres or the like, but also minimizing, if not eliminating, the formation of condensate. Since the dead air space is effectively sealed and as the entire skylight is weather-tight, there is no likelihood of rain, dust, soot, or the like, working their way into the interior of the building as so often happens when vents, louvres, and the like, are employed.

A further modification of the present invention is illusrated in FIG. in which a unit adapted to be secured to a flat roof is illustrated. Here, the dome and base sheet 21 are formed of the same material as that described previously. Base sheet 21 has an overall length and width greater than that of the dome, so that a marginal flange area 22 of the base sheet projects beyond the outer edge of the dome flange 24, all about the skylight construction. This marginal flange is adapted to fit over a built up roofing 25 overlying the roof 26 and surrounding the well opening 27. The base sheet in the area of the flange 22 is set in a mastic material 28. The dorne construction is secured by means of a series of attachment nails 29 passing through the flange 22 into the roof 26. Suitable shingling material 30 is formed over the flange 22, preferably to the edge of the domed flange 24. Dome flange 24 is secured to the base sheet 21 and an integral bond with a suitable adhesive material, such as, previously described. However, a peripheral strip of glass fiber material extends about the flange 24 with parts of the fiber strip 35' resting on the flange 24 and part resting on flange 22. This fiber strip is sealed in an integral bond to the flange 24 and flange 22 thereby, more elfectively sealing the junction of the flange 24 to the flange 22. Considerable difliculty has heretofore been encountered in separation of the dome 20 from the base sheet 21. It has, however, been found by use of this continuous strip extending entirely around the dome and eflectively sealing the flange 24 to the flange 22, the difliculties heretofore encountered are avoided.

It might be noted that in constructions of the type herein disclosed, an effective light diffusion is obtained. Such a construction effectively screens out undesirable heat producing components of daylight. Eighty pertTe r it of the solar heat striking the skylight construction is reflected, while the structure nevertheless transmits a portion of desired light. The construction, moreover, has been found to reduce heat transmission 33% better than a conventional white translucent dome. Moreover this composition provides a no glare, controlled, light level ratio of one to two, during the entire day. The variation in light intensity on the lower surface of the skylight is 4. therefore fifty percent less than the variation of the lower surface of a conventional translucent acrylic dome.

In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a further modification in which the dome 20 is provided with a peripheral outwardly extending flange 60. This flange terminates at its outer edge in a downwardly extending lip 63 through which there is provided intermittent holes. Nails 62 project through these holes into the curbing 61, if desired, suitable gasketing or mastic material may be provided in the hole surrounding the nail 62. The face sheet 21 is integrally bonded to the flange 60 in a manner as previously described.

In .FIG. 7, a still further modification is illustrated where in dome 20 is provided with outwardly extending peripheral flange 24, to which, is bonded the base sheet 21, this dome construction is secured to the curbing 65 by means of an angle member generally indicated at 66. This angle member comprises an inwardly extending apron and a downwardly extending apron 68 contiguous with the inwardly extending apron 70, at its outer edge the apron 70 is positioned above and parallel to the flange 24 and has interposed between it and the flange 24 a suitable gasketing material 67. This gasketing material 67 may be provided with intermittent openings for the passage of water therethrough. The angle member 66 is secured to the curbing by means of a nail or screw 69 projecting through the downwardly extending apron 68 into the outer surface of the curbing 65, thereby rigidly holding the dome to the upper surface of the curbing.

While I have shown and described certain desirable embodiments of this invention, it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A skylight construction comprising an outer plastic dome-like member and an inner member, said members having outwardly extending peripheral flanges in juxtaposition with the flange of said inner member extending outwardly beyond the flange of said outer member, a continuous strip of plastic material partially overlapping and covering the juncture between said flanges, and means sealing said flanges together and said strip to said flanges.

2. A construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is formed of a fiberglass material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,287 Colle et a1. Apr. 13, 1926 2,081,538 Hoarle May 25, 1937 2,280,358 Tietig Apr. 21, 1942 2,896,271 Kloote et al July 28, 1959 2,947,267 Stark Aug. 2, 1960 2,982,054 Anderson May 2, 1961 3,068,753 Kirkpatrick Dec. 18, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,003,366 France of 1951 555,188 Belgium of 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News-Record; Dec. 16, 1954, pages 53-54. Progressive Architecture; March 1955, page 163. Architectural Record; January 1956, page 63. 

1. A SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN OUTER PLASTIC DOME-LIKE MEMBER AND AN INNER MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGES IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH THE FLANGE OF SAID INNER MEMBER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE FLANGE OF SAID OUTER MEMBER, A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF PLASTIC MATERIAL PARTIALLY OVERLAPPING AND COVERING THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, AND MEANS SEALING SAID FLANGES TOGETHER AND SAID STRIP TO SAID FLANGES. 